Universal Service Fund

Overview

The Universal Service Fund (USF) provides funding that helps Wisconsin residents get essential and advanced telecommunications services. The USF funds a number of programs and grants to meet these goals. 

The USF funds these programs: 

• Lifeline: Lifeline reduces the price of essential telecommunications service for low income customers. Visit For Consumers: Lifeline and Telecom Topics: Lifeline for Providers for more information. 

• The Broadband Grants Programs: helps get broadband service to all parts of Wisconsin and are partly funded by the USF. 

• The Telecommunications Equipment Purchase Program (TEPP): helps disabled customers get the special equipment they need to use telecommunications services. 

• The USF also has a contingency program which would kick in if rates for voice service would exceed certain thresholds. Current rates do not exceed the threshold.
  

USF Funded Grant Programs

USF also funds several grant programs.

• Telemedicine Grant Program: this program supports new and innovative means of using telecommunications to provide medical and psychiatric services. 

• Lifeline Grant Program: this program promotes the Lifeline program. 
  

• Nonprofit Access Grant Program: this program funds nonprofits that are working to make telecommunications and broadband more accessible and useful to Wisconsin residents.
  

Universal Service Fund Council

The PSC is responsible for the policies and procedures of the USF and the programs it supports. It is assisted by a Universal Service Fund Council consisting of representatives of the telecommunications service providers and consumers in the state. 

The USF and the USF Council were established by 1993 Wisconsin Act 496. The USF and the Council are governed by state statutes and administrative code rules. 

Universal Service Fund Reports to the Legislature

The PSC, working with the USF Council, provides biennial reports to the legislature. Go to the Reference Center for Universal Service Fund biennial reports.

USF Financial Statements 

The USF is accounted for as a special revenue fund, which is a governmental fund. The financial statements provide a detailed short-term view of the USF’s finances that assists in determining whether there will be adequate resources available to meet the current needs of the USF.

USF Financial Statements for 6/30/2019 and 6/30/2020

For More Information

Questions about the USF and USF Council can be addressed to this general email at PSCUniversalServiceFund@wisconsin.gov or Peter Jahn at Peter.Jahn@wisconsin.gov.